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What to Watch: Office Space

Courtesy+of+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpg%2FOfficeSpaceMovie%2F
Courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/pg/OfficeSpaceMovie/

 

Working a nine-to-five job sucks. Having a lousy boss sucks. Having a boring job sucks. Working just sucks in general.

In a world of insane amounts of demand, the work never seems to end. Technology has boomed in the last 20 years, and dozens of companies have sprung up across the US in hopes to reap the billions to be made in this new tech-filled world of today.

Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) is a programmer for the fictional company Intech based in Dallas. Peter is unmotivated, frustrated and hates, no, abhors his rather crappy job.

His friends Samir Nagheenanajar (Ajay Naidu) and Michael Bolton (David Herman), not the famous singer, mind you, both sympathize with Peter. The three of them are desperate for a better life and a better job.

The mastermind behind “Office Space” is Mike Judge, who has crafted such iconic cartoons such as “Beavis and Butthead,” and “King of the Hill.” It goes without saying that Judge has a certain knack for creating crowd pleasers.

“Office Space” is every bit Mike Judge as his previous work, meaning it is darkly funny, somehow complex, and yet incredibly simple.

The film is based on a short series of animations called “Milton”, which is also of Judge’s creation. The character of Milton is portrayed by Stephen Root in the film, who was also in “King of the Hill” as Bill.  

For Ron Livingston, who would later go on to star in the HBO hit “Band of Brothers” as Capt. Lewis Nixon, this was his breakout role.

Livingston has first appeared as an extra in 1992, and later a few smaller leads, but “Office Space” would accurately display his acting chops in a rather unlikely film.

Next to Livingston’s stellar performance is the performance of Gary Cole as the dreaded, the twisted and the most hated boss of all time, Bill Lumbergh.

He is a jerk, a real pain in the ass, and is loathed by the entire company, especially Peter. Cole’s acting is on point as he delivers a dry, bitter, and absolutely unbearable performance so well that it is utterly fantastic.

In order to escape his almost zombie-like approach to life, Peter’s girlfriend Anne (Alexandra Wentworth) has him see a hypnotherapist. Initially hesitant, Peter agrees to go just to have a laugh.

What happens next forever changes Peter’s approach to his dull job and life. The following day, Peter comes into work and has an epiphany: live life the way he wants.

He swaps out his shirt and tie for Hawaiian shirts, cargo pants and socks and sandals. He slacks off at work, but he only gets promoted. He learns karate and sleeps in late. Peter becomes the god of slackers.

However, his girlfriend does not see fit to his new lifestyle, so she leaves him. Peter then pursues Joanna (Jennifer Aniston), a waitress at a sports bar he and his friends frequent. Life is finally good for Peter.

The flip from nine-to-five working fool to a dedicated slacker is spectacular, and spoke to the disenfranchised youth of the late ‘90s. Since the film’s release, “Office Space” has garnered a massive cult following.

Cited as innovative, inspirational and genius, “Office Space” found its way onto many film critics’ list of great films.

As the film moves on, the three friends aim to get back at their crappy boss and their place of employment in a near genius plot. The film never slows down and keeps its sense of humor.

Slack off and watch this great film. Everybody needs that lazy day where they do nothing and love it, so why not kick it off with “Office Space.” Break the norms of the work week.

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Tyler Lopez, Author

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    LolaMar 9, 2017 at 7:13 am

    That’s really sherdw! Good to see the logic set out so well.

    Reply